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      01-04-2014, 06:40 AM   #1
Mtpisgah
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Tire pressure and cold weather

Yesterday morning when I started driving the temperature was 21deg F and all four tire pressure sensors lit up warning of low pressure. I know the temperature affects the tire pressure but this is the first car I have owned with the fancy tire pressure warning system so it was the first time I really paid any attention to it. I checked the pressure and they were down to 24psi, since I have a short drive to work I did not worry about it for the day. On the drive home, only one tire pressure read as being low.

Do any of you adjust the tire pressure in the winter to account for this? Living in SC it is not usually a problem for us and I am not overly concerned about it. I just wanted to see what people who live in cold climates such as CT do.
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      01-04-2014, 08:44 AM   #2
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air pressure

I never had a vehicle with a pressure sensor as sensitive as the X-1. Most of the time I measure and then reset dash. If as low as 24psi definitely needs to be topped off. Must be a smoother ride though.
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      01-04-2014, 11:36 AM   #3
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In colder temps we see a significant change in pressure. On an average cold day I add air and reset. In the spring time March I check and bleed some air out.

In a more temperate climate I would check the tire pressure mid morning after it has warmed up but with cold tires.
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      01-04-2014, 12:20 PM   #4
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Of course you should adjust pressure based on ambient temperature or elevation...that's a no-brainer, summer and winter.
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      01-04-2014, 02:20 PM   #5
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Same issues here with the cold, it's once-a-year cold and I'm heading out with my Continental ComfortKit to top off the tires now that it's up to 40
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      01-05-2014, 08:04 AM   #6
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I added some air yesterday morning and then drove into the mountains. It was good to have it right. The temperature never got above 38F. I will check it again in a few days when the temps get back to normal.

Last edited by Mtpisgah; 01-05-2014 at 03:37 PM..
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      01-05-2014, 01:47 PM   #7
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An old rule of thumb is a loss of 1lb for every 10*s of temperature drop...and it's not always possible to be exactly right with the up and down temps we've had of late.
I have the luxury of a garage, and have to fudge a little on air pressure depending on temps outside the garage.
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      01-05-2014, 10:28 PM   #8
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I use nitrogen in my tires to minimize the sensor giving false readings in cold weather.
When I had a Lexus you had to use nitrogen do to wheel failure. The chrome would fail to adhere to the wheel after about a year.
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      01-06-2014, 12:24 AM   #9
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It is not uncommon for the tpms to give warnings on cold temperatures. I see it to many other brands.
I switched to non run flats with new wheels and I have no pressure sensors on them, no more false alarm for me.
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      01-06-2014, 08:24 AM   #10
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Today after letting the X1 sit outside in -8f all 4 tires are showing a warning.
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      01-06-2014, 10:41 AM   #11
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I've always been a little skeptical of using nitrogen in tires; the atmosphere is 78% nitrogen anyway, and it makes it difficult for owners to correct the tire pressure at home. I'm not sure that being rid of the other 20% really gives you much protection from temperature fluctuations, but it is a money maker for dealers or tire shops.
Let's save the nitrogen for keeping the Guinness frothy and let it go at that.
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      01-06-2014, 11:06 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by halfmoonclip View Post
I've always been a little skeptical of using nitrogen in tires; the atmosphere is 78% nitrogen anyway, and it makes it difficult for owners to correct the tire pressure at home. I'm not sure that being rid of the other 20% really gives you much protection from temperature fluctuations, but it is a money maker for dealers or tire shops.
Let's save the nitrogen for keeping the Guinness frothy and let it go at that.
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Concur, it's just a way for dealers to make money. It makes sense for pressurized airplanes, it doesn't make sense for cars.
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      01-06-2014, 11:45 AM   #13
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Quote:
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Concur, it's just a way for dealers to make money. It makes sense for pressurized airplanes, it doesn't make sense for cars.
I agree and disagree in the same time.
The nitrogen will help to keep the tire pressure. Due to its molecules it is very unlikely to leak.
I had nitrogen on my tires, and still have on one of my cars and I did not check the pressure in years, except I am asking the dealer to give it a check when I go for an oil change or whatever.

There are dealers that don't offer nitrogen but if they will, I will fill my tires with nitrogen.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...stions/4302788
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      01-06-2014, 12:04 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracus View Post
I agree and disagree in the same time.
The nitrogen will help to keep the tire pressure. Due to its molecules it is very unlikely to leak.
I had nitrogen on my tires, and still have on one of my cars and I did not check the pressure in years, except I am asking the dealer to give it a check when I go for an oil change or whatever.

There are dealers that don't offer nitrogen but if they will, I will fill my tires with nitrogen.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...stions/4302788
I guess it's just like checking the oil, it's a habit for me to check the air pressure, and when the temp changes dramatically, I plan on changing the tire pressure. I ride bicycles, I'm constantly filling up tires, so I guess it's just something I don't see as worth trying to avoid.

Since it's really necessary to have two valve stems to purge the atmospheric air with nitrogen, the dealer fill ups and such really aren't giving you true nitrogen fills anywho.
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      01-06-2014, 12:46 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Bread View Post
I guess it's just like checking the oil, it's a habit for me to check the air pressure, and when the temp changes dramatically, I plan on changing the tire pressure. I ride bicycles, I'm constantly filling up tires, so I guess it's just something I don't see as worth trying to avoid.

Since it's really necessary to have two valve stems to purge the atmospheric air with nitrogen, the dealer fill ups and such really aren't giving you true nitrogen fills anywho.
I fully agree with your care for the pressure, it is very important for the vehicle, for the tire, for the ride, gas consumption and so on. I was the same with my cars and check regularly, however with the nitrogen I have changed my habbits. Few years back when I started to fill my tires with nitrogen, I was still checking on regular basis my tires until after several checks I realized that they don't change their pressure at all. I got lazy I guess, my X1 is on air with no pressure sensors and except a visual inspection I still didn't check it. I will do it in spring though...
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      01-06-2014, 01:50 PM   #16
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Nothing wrong with that, I may switch over one day too. Hell, maybe I'll lose this silly bag phone too.
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      01-06-2014, 06:39 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BeEmDoubleV View Post
In colder temps we see a significant change in pressure. On an average cold day I add air and reset. In the spring time March I check and bleed some air out.
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      01-06-2014, 10:28 PM   #18
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What the Lexus dealer told me about nitrogen is that it has less moisture than normal air. It is the moisture that causes the problems with newer vehicles. What did we do before all this annoying technology. We drove in blissful ignorance.
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      01-06-2014, 11:11 PM   #19
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Both my 2010 Ranger and my X1 have come from the dealer with nitrogen fill at no extra cost to me. They also filled my BMX tires with nitrogen. I have yet to put air in any tire that has nitrogen in it. I used to check them often to see if there is pressure fluctuation but have never noticed anything significant.
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      01-07-2014, 12:05 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iride4u View Post
What the Lexus dealer told me about nitrogen is that it has less moisture than normal air. It is the moisture that causes the problems with newer vehicles. What did we do before all this annoying technology. We drove in blissful ignorance.

I fill my tires will air from a scuba cylinder. That air is dry, damn dry, real dry. As such, it is all about the compressor and the filtering. For the cost of a N2 fill vs air from a scuba cylinder there is no contest. Plus I can do it at home.


PS If anybody wants to go this route certain aluminum cylinders made before 1990 can be difficult fill. I will not go into details but figure $100 for a used cylinder and reg.
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      01-09-2014, 05:00 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracus View Post
I switched to non run flats with new wheels and I have no pressure sensors on them, no more false alarm for me.
I don't think there are sensors on the wheels? I thought the tire pressure monitor worked by measuring rotational speed.
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      01-09-2014, 09:40 AM   #22
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Interesting. I live in Charlotte and Tuesday morning it was down to 6 Deg F. Got in car and got low pressure warning for all four wheels. They look fine and car drove fine so I proceded cautiously to work. When I gor home that afternoon it had warmed up to 27 Deg F. I let tires cool and checked pressure. To my surprise they were spot on the correct tire pressure, not low a bit. I'm finding it hard to believe that a Delta T of 21 degrees would be enough to trigger the warning. I did the reset thing and all has been well since then
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